BTC to become 'Bodoland Union Territorial Council' after New Treaty: Report

Guwahati, January 24, 2020:

According to reports, the long-running Bodo insurgency problem is on the verge of being resolved, as leaders of all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) reached New Delhi for peace parlays with the Centre. According to reports, the new treaty will turn the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) into the Bodoland Union Territorial Council, granting it more power and autonomy.

All the rebels under Saoraigwra, the leader of the NDFB (S) faction, have arrived from Myanmar. Bishnu Goyari alias Bidai also came out of hiding recently. Accused of masterminding a series of attacks on Adivasis in Bodoland that killed over 80 people, his name had figured on the most wanted list of the National Investigation Agency as well as an Interpol red-corner notice issued on the centre's request.

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Accompanying Bidai was his deputy Binod Mushahary alias Batha, who has been under the scanner of the Interpol and the central probe agency for the same reasons.

On Friday, all the 4 factions of the NDFB joined peace parlays in Delhi, and according to news reports, an agreement will be signed on January 27.

According to reports, the agreement will be signed on January 27, and all the four factions of the NDFB will sign the agreement that is believed to 'upgrade' the existing Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) that came into being in 2003 after amalgamation of 4 districts in Assam (Baksa, Kokrajhar, Udalguri, and Chirang).

The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) and the Bodo Sahitya Sabha, influential in their own right, will also be a part of the peace parlays and have given their nod of assent to the new Bodoland Union Territorial Council, reports said.

Talking to media, prominent Bodo politician and Assam Minister Pramila Rani Brahma said: "We want a good agreement so that no armed militant is born again...the Government wants that and we want discussions with them (the militants)."

Meanwhile, the incarcerated Ranjan Daimary has also been flown to New Delhi after he was granted bail to take part in the ongoing peace process.

More details are awaited.

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